2023-11-03
1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
In Scripture, the church is never described as a democracy. Certainly every person deserves equal treatment in terms of kindness, love, and respect; but as our God-given assignments differ, so do our gifts. “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (v. 11 NLT). Pay close attention to the words “He alone decides.”
As a parent, you want to see all your children succeed in life. But you recognize that just as their individual talents differ, so do their unique destinies. That’s why it’s a mistake to compete with or compare yourself to somebody else. The Bible says, “God was validating it [the message] with gifts… as he saw fit” (Hebrews 2:4 MSG). Don’t question and second-guess God; He knows what He is doing and never makes mistakes.
Even among His twelve disciples, Jesus had an inner circle. He took Peter, James, and John up the Mount of Transfiguration and sent the others into town to work. He didn’t feel obligated to take everybody up the mountain so nobody would feel slighted. Does that mean He loves one person more than another? No, the experience Peter, James, and John had on the mountaintop that day was part of their training for the assignment Jesus was calling them to.
There is a lesson here. You have to move beyond other people’s opinions. God made you for a special purpose; He has a job for you that nobody else can do as well as you. When you know that something is right for you, do it and trust God to vindicate you in the eyes of others.
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; John 7:14-24; Ps 9; Prov 24:30-34
2023-11-02
Mark 9:23 NKJV
One day a distraught father came to Jesus and said, “My son… frequently… he falls into the fire and… the water… I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to cure him” (Matthew 17:15-16 AMPC). Notice, he never once said, “Maybe my son inherited this problem from me” or “Perhaps if I had raised him differently.” No, he dumped the responsibility onto the disciples, who were themselves in training.
Whenever we’re in trouble, we like to blame the pastor, the church, our mate, our boss, our family, our looks, our social status, or find some other excuse. We’re unable or unwilling to admit that we stuck our own hand in the fire or almost drowned by jumping in headfirst when we couldn’t swim.
After Jesus healed the boy, His disciples asked Him, “Why can’t we do the things you do?” (See Matthew 17:19). That’s like asking, “Why isn’t my marriage working?” or “How come I’m still in debt?” or “Why isn’t my life going as planned?” Jesus replied, “Because your faith is too small” (Matthew 17:20 NCV).
Sometimes you need the kind of faith that makes you seem a little weird; the kind that doesn’t need other people’s approval and doesn’t care whether or not you fit in. That’s the kind of faith that made Noah say, “Even though there has never been rain and nobody in my generation believes, I’m still going to do what God said.” As a result, he came out on top! Paul writes, “Having done all… stand” (Ephesians 6:13 NKJV). Stand on what? Stand on what God has told you in His Word, because ultimately, it’s the thing that will work.
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 24:28-29
2023-11-01
2 Kings 3:25 NKJV
In Old Testament times, “slingers” were people who enjoyed going around blocking other people’s wells by throwing mud and rocks into them – wells of water that were essential to their survival. Today, mudslingers are people who make malicious attacks against others.
Now, chances are that you may have encountered some “mudslingers” yourself, and even suffered at their hands. What should you do? Avoid them because they’re dangerous. You can’t mud wrestle with a pig without getting dirty. Not only will the pig win – he will enjoy the fight!
And if you yourself have become a slinger, here is a portion of Scripture you would do well to read and keep in mind: “If you stop making trouble for others,… then your light will shine in the darkness, [you will begin to get attention from and have influence with the right people]… The Lord will always lead you [you will begin to make the right moves]. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands [He will give you success in the most unlikely places, and in spite of adverse circumstances] and give strength to your bones [cause you to live a long and healthy life]” (Isaiah 58:9-11 NCV).
Now there is a benefit package worth working for! So, guard your thoughts because they become your words. Guard your words because they become your actions. Guard your actions because they become your character. And guard your character because it determines the level of God’s blessing in your life. So, here is the word for you today: Don’t be a mudslinger.
Soul food: 1 Chron 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
2023-10-31
2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV
Try as we might to avoid it, and as reluctant as we are to discuss it, each of us must release the hand of the one we love into the hand of the One who loves us most. But what happens when you die? What happens to you between your death and Christ’s return? Paul answers, “We don’t want you, my brothers, to be in any doubt about those who ‘fall asleep’ in death, or to grieve over them like men… who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 PHPS).
Scripture is surprisingly quiet about what happens to us in the period between our death and the resurrection of our body. (It doesn’t give us enough information to satisfy our curiosity, just enough to whet our appetite). Paul writes: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:21-23 NIV).
Bible scholar Anthony Hoekema says, “What Paul is saying here is that the moment he departs or dies, that very same moment he will be with Christ.” Ultimately, heaven is the greatest healing of all! Your loved ones had pain here but have no pain there. They struggled here but have no struggles there. You may wonder why God took them home, but they don’t. Now they understand. They are, at this very moment, at peace in God’s presence.
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
2023-10-30
Acts 26:19 KJV
When God gives you a vision: (1) It will interrupt you. Sometimes God will speak in a voice you can’t tune out. Other times, like Jonah, God will let you go to the bottom to get your attention. Either way, things won’t go right until you say yes to Him.
(2) It will illuminate you. You may not like what God says. Ananias didn’t like going to pray for Saul of Tarsus, a man with the power to put Christians to death. But God said, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel…I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV). Notice the word “suffer.” The Devil isn’t going to send you a congratulatory telegram because you have decided to do God’s will, so be prepared for attack.
(3) It will inspire you. You will accomplish things you never dreamed possible. Look at Gideon. When God found him he was hiding in a winepress (See Judges 6:11 NKJV); not exactly a promising start. When the angel called him “a mighty man of valor” (v. 12 NKJV), he replied, “I am the least in my father’s house” (v. 15 NKJV). When the angel said, “The Lord is with you,” he replied, “If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” (vv. 12-13 NKJV). When he finally took the job, he wondered, “How can so few of us defeat so many of them?” Yet at that very moment his enemies were having nightmares about him (See Judges 7:13-15). The secret of victory lies in knowing: “It is God working in me” (See Philippians 2:13).
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 6:60-71; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 24:26-27
2023-10-29
Acts 26:19 KJV
Paul had a “heavenly vision.” But there are those who “speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV). So you must be sure you are operating according to God’s plan, not your own, or somebody else’s.
The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us two things: (1) When people make up their mind to do something, they often succeed. (2) Succeeding doesn’t mean that you’re in the will of God. The word babel (confusion) means others can think you’re right, yet you’re wrong. You ask, “But isn’t it okay to make plans and set goals?” Yes, but your plans and goals should come out of a vision that God has given you.
When Paul said, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,” he meant that there’s only one acceptable response to God’s plan – obedience! Partial obedience, selective obedience, or delayed obedience are still disobedience.
William Carey, who is considered the father of modern missions, gave up comfort and fortune to go to India and introduce the gospel. One of his more memorable quotes is: “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God!” But you can only say that with confidence when you know what God has called you to do. What He ordains, He sustains! When you set your own goals you lack a heart-deep confidence that God is doing the work, so you wear yourself out thinking it’s all up to you. However, when you know God has given you a vision for your life, you trust Him, even when you can’t see any way to bring it to pass.
Soul food: Ps 103; Mark 5:24-34
